Montreal will have to pay $318,000 to Golf exécutif de Montréal, located on L’Île-des-Sœurs, after being completely dismissed by an arbitration award.
In addition, the golf course will be able to continue operating for decades to come on land owned by the city. The company also sees municipal bills of more than $200,000 cancelled by the decision.
“This award puts an end to a long conflict,” commented borough mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger at the beginning of September, at the borough council, announcing the result of the arbitration. The decision itself was not made public. “I am aware that Verdun residents who were eagerly awaiting this judgment – hoping to return to the golf course they knew several years ago – may not find their wish granted.”
The dispute between the Executive Golf of Montreal and the City of Montreal had been burning for years. The company operated under a lease concluded in 2007 and that the current elected officials would have liked to have cancelled.
The contract included a requirement that the operator operate an “ecological” and “public” golf course, but did not define those terms. The arbitration award determined that the company’s certification was sufficient and that the golf course could be considered “public” even though membership costs $10,000.
“The sentence is final, whether we agree with it or not,” said Mr.me Mauger. However, “there will be close monitoring of the contract.”
The $318,000 in damages order is linked to statements by the former Verdun borough mayor, Jean-François Parenteau, continued Mme Mauger. However, she did not specify which statements were being referred to.
“It is not possible for me to comment on this, because the arbitration process is confidential, as is the arbitrator’s decision,” Mr. Parenteau responded Friday. “The current mayor unfortunately has to deal with the decision now and has nothing to reproach herself for in my eyes. The only thing I hope is that everyone can find acceptable common ground in the interest of citizens and golf players.”
Montreal Executive Golf did not call back The Press. If it exercises its renewal options, the company can occupy this municipal land until 2077.
“The city wants to kick us out. They don’t want to solve the problems. But that won’t happen. Never. We’re here to stay!” he told The Press Guillaume Boulanger, vice-president of the company, in 2019. “Termination of the lease? Good luck!”